Penrose

Bull Gulch fire burns 150 acres, five percent contained

Fire crews assess the Bull Gulch Fire on Thursday near the South T-Bar Ranch. (Curtis Eulert / Special to the Daily Record)

At a Glance

Time/Date Started: About 1 p.m. Wednesday

Size: 150 acres

Containment: Five percent

Fuels: Piñon, Juniper, Ponderosa Pine

Cause: Under investigation

The Bull Gulch fire continues to burn nine miles northeast of Cotopaxi in Fremont County.

The fire began at about 1 p.m. Wednesday, and since has burned 150 acres in brush, piñon, juniper and ponderosa pine forests.

The Bureau of Land Management reported Thursday evening that air and ground crews made good progress in fighting the fire and no significant growth in the fire was reported. It was considered five percent contained at press time.

A Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) made a drop on the fire Thursday morning and three helicopters made water drops throughout the day. Ninety-eight personnel worked on the ground with another 20-person hand crew expected to arrive Friday morning.

No structures have been lost, but the Texas Creek Trail system is closed. About 30 homes in the South T-Bar Ranch subdivision were put on pre-evacuation notice late Wednesday.

Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker said Thursday fire-fighting resources are stretched thin, especially with other active fires burning in the state.

"We do have some residents in that area on the flank of the fire, but today's conditions prompted a pre-evacuation call," he said Thursday morning. "About 28 were targeted residences, and that may have to expand today based on conditions."

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Beicker said the fire is burning about 12 to 15 miles north of Cotopaxi off of CR 16. Much attention is being paid to prevalent wind directions, and CR 21, CR 2 and South T-Bar Ranch are closely being monitored for potential evacuation.

The heavy smoke visible Thursday in the Cañon City area was not from the Bull Gulch Fire, the BLM reported, but because of high fire activity throughout the state and wind direction, smoke has drifted in from the West Fork Fire Complex in the San Juan National Forest near Wolf Creek Pass.

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